Language

(excerpted from the glossary of Karen Armstrong's new work, The Case for God.)

faith. Trust; loyalty; the English translation of the Latin fides ("loyalty; "fealty") and the Greek pistis. It did not originally mean acceptance of orthodox theology. See belief.

belief. Originally the Middle English verb bileven meant "to love; to prize; to hold dear"; and the noun bileve meant "loyalty; trust; commitment; engagement." It was related to the German liebe ("beloved") and the Latin libido ("desire.") In the English versions of the Bible, the translators used these words to render the Greek pistis; pisteuo; and the Latin fides; credo. Thus "belief" became the equivalent of "faith." But "belief" began to change its meaning during the late 17th c. It started to be used of an intellectual assent to a particular proposition, teaching, opinion, or doctrine. It was used in this modern sense first by philosophers and scientists, and the new usage did not become common in religious contexts until the 19th c.

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We cannot presume that words have always been used in the same way, with the same intent. We cannot assume when a person expresses him/herself with words, that we are perceiving exactly what they mean to convey. Language is a tool, not an absolute. Wisdom gives language its wings. Compassion acts as a bridge to understanding.